St Helena Cruises

ST. HELENA

This ancient volcanic island is set in the tropical South Atlantic approximately 1,500 miles northwest of Cape Town. St. Helena became a British dependency in 1834 and still retains its 19th-century values. It is imbued with nearly 300 years of colonial history that manifests itself in the architecture and ambience of Jamestown.

St. Helena was discovered on May 21, 1502 by Portuguese Admiral Joao da Nova on his return voyage from India, which was the anniversary of St. Helena mother of Emperor Constantine. The island soon became a haven for sea travelers because of its luxuriant vegetation, equable climate and wealth of fruit trees.

St. Helena is small yet beautiful. It is an island of contrasts, from wind eroded deserts with multi-colored ridges and valleys, to emerald hillsides, soft pastures and lush vegetation-filled valleys. It has a magnificent bronze coastline with cliffs that have been carved over the centuries by the pounding Atlantic rollers.

The island offers a unique Napoleonic museum as well as interesting endemics, both flora and fauna. St. Helena contains several unique species of flowering plants, ferns and flora that can only be found on the island.

St. Helena is a refuge far from the madding crowd, a place with warm and friendly people and an island where heritage and nature live in harmony.